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I trust that as the delay arose from causes beyond our control, you will see your way to authorize payment of the usual gratuity. I have, &c, D. A. Aiken, Assistant General Manager. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [Suez Conn. 11/55.] Enclosure in No. 224. The Master, s.s. " Warrimoo," to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir Dunedin, Ist July, 1911. From the time we left Wellington up till Monday at noon, the ship then being about 300 miles from Sydney, we proceeded at the rate of about 14-3 knots. Thereafter the wind freshened up from the west, until a strong gale and mountainous sea, with severe squalls, was run into, and the ship was pitching and racing very much, which caused her progress to be considerably retarded. On Tuesday morning we double-banked the firemen, to try and get better speed, in order to make every endeavour to arrive in Sydney in time for the mail-train, but the weather did not moderate until the afternoon, when it shifted to the south-west, which made her roll considerably. This weather continued until arrival at the heads, which was reached at 8.32 p.m. Yours, &c, C. Clift, Master, s.s. " Warrimoo." The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin.

No. 225. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Sir. Dunedin, 6th July, 1911. I have to acknowledge yours of the 30th ultimo, advising that Messrs. Huddart, Parker, and Co. had detained their " Ulimaroa " until 7 p.m. on the 30th ultimo, and that you held this to be a breach of the contract. I gather from Messrs. Huddart, Parker, and Co.'s Manager that they made the sailing-hour 7 p.m. before they were aware that you had fixed 5 p.m. as the hour of departure, and in this matter it is possible that we were to blame, as we had not passed on your verbal communication to our Mr. Kennedy of the 26th May that you definitely required the- steamers to leave at 5 p.m. I trust you will accept this explanation as satisfactory. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. C. Holdsworth, General Manager. | Suez Conn. 11/56.] ________________

No. 226. The President, Liberal and Labour Federation of New Zealand, Waitemata Branch, Devonport, to the Hon. the Acting Postmaster-General, Wellington. Liberal and Labour Federation of New Zealand, W'aitemata Branch, Sir, Devonport, 7th July, 1911. I am directed by the Waitemata branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation to forward to you the subjoined copy of a resolution passed by that body on Wednesday, the sth instant, and to ask that you would be good enough to give the same your favourable consideration. I have, &c, W. J. Napier, President. Resolution. That, in order to provide speedy mail and passenger communication with the outer world via Australia,, and thereby develop the tourist traffic and increase the prosperity of the Dominion, the Government be requested to construct or charter two 20,000-ton steamers to connect Auckland and Sydney by a three-days State service. That the assistance of the Chamber of Commerce be invited in the matter. The Hon. the Acting Postmaster-General, Wellington. [Suez Conn. 11/60.] [Acknowledged, 17th July.]

No. 227. The Secretary, Woodville Chamber of Commerce, Woodville, to Mr. R. B. Ross, M.P., Woodville. Sir— Woodville, 11th July, 1911. # $ # * # * * This Chamber has resolved to support the proposal [No. 248] of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and to ask you to be kind enough to use your influence to assist it being carried out. It would mean the arrival of the mails perhaps on Friday nights, and certainly on Saturday mornings, in Woodville, instead of on Monday afternoons as at present. Hoping you will be able to assist to bring the suggestion into force, I have, &c, Rowe Fennell, Secretary. R. B. Ross, Esq., M.P., Woodville. [Suez Conn. 11/102.]